Former Lion Sturgis to guide BAHS next winter

Replaces Amy Dyer-Kelley, who stepped down after three seasons

By Mark Haskell | Jul 17, 2012

Belfast — The Belfast Area High School girls basketball team will have a new coach on the sidelines next season, someone who hopes to guide the Lions to the regional playoffs for the first time in years.

Stanley Sturgis was appointed the head coach of the girls varsity basketball program last month, said BAHS athletic director Mark Babin.

Sturgis, 35, replaces Amy Dyer-Kelley, who stepped down after three seasons at the helm of a program she once played for.

Sturgis, who also coached the Troy Howard Middle School boys seventh-grade basketball team to the Busline League championship last year, said he was "super happy" to get the job.

"This is the best thing that's ever happened to me other than my wife and kids," he said. "I've been waiting and wanting to do this for a long time."

"We're excited to have Stanley on board," said Babin. "We look forward to his energy and enthusiasm to move our program forward."

Sturgis also coached the Troy Howard girls basketball team in recent years, while also serving as that school's football coach for the past three seasons, in addition to coaching many sports travel teams.

He also is a coach in and the president of the Belfast-Northport-Swanville Cal Ripken baseball league in the summer, previously the Belfast-Northport Swanville Little League.

He is a 1995 BAHS graduate and played basketball and football for the Lions.

"I went to school here in Belfast, I love this community and they've always supported me in everything I've done," he said. "I can't explain how excited I am and thrilled about the position. I just hope I don't let the girls down."

Sturgis said BAHS has talented players, but there are no guarantees in terms of playing times or spots on the varsity squad.

"As far as I'm concerned, the varsity team has zero players right now," he said. "They're all going to have to compete and earn their own spots."

Sturgis has a reputation of a coach with a lot of fire and intensity on the sidelines, which he hopes rubs off on his players and, ultimately, translates into wins.

"The fire and the intensity, that's just who I am," he said. "And I think the kids feed off that. I feel if I just sit there and be quiet, they'll just play to that level. So I'm going to coach the way I've always coached, because that's what I think got me here."

Sturgis has two children, Mariah and Stan Jr. Mariah will be a freshman at BAHS in 2012-13, while Stan Jr. will be a seventh-grader at Troy Howard. Sturgis resides in Belfast with his wife, Jaime.

Courier Publications Associate Sports Director Mark Haskell can be reached at 207-594-4401 or by email at mhaskell@courlerpublicationsllc.com.